In a lengthy post on X in December, Ramaswamy waded into the political discussion on American versus foreign-born workers and railed against a culture that he said had misplaced priorities. “Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer)” he wrote.

Speaking at an inauguration eve rally in Washington, Trump claimed that the forthcoming pardons would make his supporters “very happy,” once again referring to the convictees—who tore through the U.S. Capitol complex in a deadly riot, halting Congress’s certification of votes in delirious support of his failed presidential bid—as “hostages.”